Lawn-rake.



` UNITED STATES "PATENT- OFFICE.

. WILLIAM H. EGAN, OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS.

LAWN-BAKE.

S EGKFKUATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,461, dated July 16, 1901. application lecl January 17, 1901. Serial No. l13,621. (No model.)

T tZZ Lv'wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM H. EGAN, a

citizen ofthe United States, residing at Galesburg, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lawn-Rakes, of which Io which lawns may be raked very much more tervals and the severed quickly and more eiiiciently than is possible with hand-rakes of the kind customarily usedV for this purpose. .v

Vith this end in view the present invention contemplates a rotary rake proper which derives its motion from ground-wheels and -a receptacle into which the matter picked up by the rake is delivered andv by which such matter is carried until the receptacle is filled..

IThere lawn-grass is mowed. at frequent ingrass-blades are consequently-short, it is found desirable to leave it where it is cut to form a mulch, and preferably, hough not necessarily, the teeth of my improved rake proper are set at such in. tei-vals that they will comb or card the growing grass and willpick up bits of paper, leaves, and other foreign substances of considerable size, while the severed grass-blades will be left.

ground-wheels of objectionably large diameter, while at the-same time permitting the use of a rotary rake 0f sufficiently large diameter to insure good results. 'lhe-rake, as here shown, consists of a shaft F, having at each of itsv ends four equidistant spokes G and having at its center' fourequidistant spokes H, the spokes G at opposite ends of the shaft being arranged in corresponding radial positions, while the i ntermediate spokes H occupy intervening radial positions, forming equal angles with the spokes G. The spokes support four spirally-,disposed and slightly-twisted bars I, carrying teeth i. The shaft F is journaled in and projects beyond the plates E, and to its projecting endsfare secured pinions J, meshing with intern-ai gears K, carried by the ground-wheels A, said pinious J having contact with the gears The invention consists in the features of novelty, that are hereinafter described with. reference to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and in which- Figure l is a sectional elevation of a rake embodying the invention, the section heilig taken in irregular planes which are approximately represented bythe line l '1, Fig. 3. Fig. y2 is a view thereof looking downward, some ot' the parts being shown in horizontal section and others beingbroken away.

A represents the ground-wheels, journalcd upon the offset extremities l oi a bar or rod U, which has non-circular portions l), occupying corresponding non-circular openings in side plates E, which, together' with the oft'- set bar (i, constitute the fraine of the niachine. 'lhc object of the non-circular por-- tions l) fitting corresponding` openings in the plates E is-to prevent the bar C from rotating, and the object in forming the 1nar t) with an offset is to avoid the necessity for using zontal, or practically so, vandthe other branch being vertical, or practically so-,and extending downward from the horizontal branch nearly to the ground. Near the lower extremitiesv of these vertical branches of the plates E is journaled a ground-roller L, which supports the rear side of the frame and maintains the proper relation between the ground and the teeth of the rake.

' M is a propelling pole or handle, the forward portion of which isi-bifurcated and has its extremities m secured to the plates, respectively.

N is a receptacle for receiving the matter thrown up by the rake. Itis preferably provided near its forward part with ground-rollers (l and near its rear part with ground-rollers (Y, and its sides are provided with forward ly-extending projections P, that are pivotally mounted upon the extended ends of the shaft L' 4of the roller L. As an additional means for supporting the rear portion of the receptacle N it may be connected to the pole )l by means of a chain or other device Q, which enables it to belifted for dumping and other purposes.

llt is a shield, preferably of sheet metal, the rear edge ot' which is connected to the sides of the receptacle N, as shown at r, whence it proceeds forward and upward and thence forward and downward, so that it completely covers the rake andi compels matter thrown up by the rake to fall into the receptacle.

The above-described open construction of what -might be termedV the frame. and casing of my improved rake is ad vantageous, since it allows ready access not only to the forward part of the receptacle, but also to all of the working parts of the machine, thus making it convenient to reach them for cleaning or repair purposes.

Having described my invention, what IVv claim as new t-herein, and desire to secure by.

1. A lawn-rake having, in combination, a pair of ground-wheels, la frame comprising a pai-r of side plates, and a rod having olfset ends, said plates having non-circular openings and said rod having non-circular portions occupying said openings and having also, beyond said non-circular portions, extended portions upon which the groundwheels are journaled, a rotary rake having a shaft journaled in said side plates, a pinion carried by said shaft, and an internal gear carried by the ground-wheels and meshing with the pinion, substantially as set forth.

2. A lawn-rake having, in combination, a pair of ground whee1s, a frame supported thereby and comprising a pair of L-shaped side plates and a rod connecting them, a rotary rake journaled in the horizontal arms of the side plates, a pinion carried by the rake, an internal gear carried by the groundwheel and meshing with the pinion, a. groundroller journaled in the depending portions of the L-shaped side plates, a receptacle having its forward portion connected to the depending portions of the side plates, means for snpportingthe rear portion of the receptacle, and a propelling-pole, substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM II. EGAN. Witnesses:

KATHLEEN C. SLATTERY, ADDIE F. WILLIAMSON. 

